Partition for separating the products of fusion electrolysis of metallic chlorides



R. SUCHY ET AL ,8 4 N FOR SEPARATING THE PRODUCTS 0F ECTROLYSIS OFMETALLIC CHL Filed Feb. 11, 1930 ORIDES FZaZer-Z m N m T T A PatentedAug. 11, 1931 TTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT SUCHY, KARL STAIB, ANDWILHELM MOSCHEL, OF BITTERFELD, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO I. G.FARBENINDUSTRIE AKTIENGESELLSGHAFT, OF FBANKFORT-ON- THE-MAIN, GERMANYPARTITION FOR SEIARATING THE Application filed. February 11, 1930,Serial No.

This invention relates to partitions for separating the electrolyticproducts in the fusion electrolysis of chlorides, particularly ofmagnesium, and is a continuation in part of our copending application'Ser. No.

326,380 filed December 15, 1928.

. In that application, we have stated that the rapid destruction of thechamotte partitions which were hitherto generally employed, has beenfound to be a purely electrolytic process. Refractory materials of thiskind have a porosity ranging from about 18 to 30 percent, hence they arecompletely saturated with the electrolyte and conduct the current, sothat the metal resulting from the electrolysis, such as magnesium, isdeposited within the partition and at the temperatures prevailing in thebath reduces its silica contents. We have further described various waysof making partitions which are not liable to destruction in this mannerby employing, in their construction, materials which offer a surface ofdense structure and therefore impermeable to the electric current.

In accordance with the present invention, the durability of therefractory partitions is substantially increased by protecting themagainst the passage of the current by a layer of non-conductive ceramicmaterial of dense structure, such as porcelain. With the comparativelylarge partitions employed in baths of a technical size, however, it isimpossible to face a base plate with a uniform sheet ofporcelain; and itis therefore necessary to subdivide the coating plate into elements ofsmaller size, preferably of rectangular or wedge-like shape, and fitthese elements together by means of a suitable binder, e. g., arefractory mortar, so as to form a continuous surface layer on the baseplate.

When employing wedge-shaped tablets of dense refractory material andmounting them on the base plate in the manner of a straight arch it issufiicient to fix them to the base plate by means of a suitableadhesive, preferably a refractory mortar. This is due to the fact thatthe rigidity of the surface layer structure as a whole is secured by thekeying effect of the wedge-elements. With PRODUCTS 01 FUSIONELECTROLYSIS OF METALLIC CHLORIDES 427,441, and. in Germany December23', 1927.

rectangular or otherwise-shaped tablets, however, it is ratherindispensable to inlay the tablets in the base plate, so as to ensuresupport of the surface layer structure which is, in this case, notsufiiciently rigid in itself.

It will be understood that it is not necessary to face the whole of thebase plate with tablets of dense refractory material. In View of the endto be attained it is generally suflicient to provide only one side ofthe porous base plate with the protective layer the latter extendingonly slightly beyond such part of the partition as a whole as is broughtinto contact with the fused electrolyte during electrolysis.

The accompanying drawings, of which Fig. l is an elevation and Fig. 2 ahorizontal section of a partition along line 1-2 in Fig. 1 will serve toillustrate our present invention by way of example.

In these drawings, (1. represents the base plate of porous refractorysubstance and b are tablets of porcelain forming the surface layer onthe base plate, said tablets being mounted on the base plate in themanner of a straight arch and fitted together and held to the base plateby means of refractory mortar, a are the side walls of the electrolyticbath, the partition being fitted into said walls by means of a grooveprovided in the walls.

We claim 1. A partition for separating the products of fusionelectrolysis of metallic chlorides comprising a base plate of porousrefractory material, and a surface layer on said base plate consistingof a plurality of plates of non-conductive ceramic material of densestructure, said plates being fittedtogether and mounted on said baseplate by 3. A partition for separating the prodnets of fusionelectrolysis of metallic chlorides comprising a base plate of chamotteand a surfacelayer on said base plate consisting of a plurality ofWedge-shaped plates of porcelain arranged in the *manner of a straightarch, said plates being fitted together and mounted on said base plateby means of a suitable binder.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands. r

' ROBERT SUCHY.

KARL STAIB. WILHELM MOSCHEL.

